A State High Court in Owerri, Imo State, has called for an expedited trial in the cases of five individuals accused of kidnapping, urging both the prosecution and defence to cooperate so that judgments can be delivered before January 2027.
Presiding over the proceedings, Justice Emeka Orafu emphasized the importance of timely resolution, particularly in two cases: one involving three defendants charged with abducting prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, and another involving two suspects in a separate kidnapping incident.
During the hearing, Ikem Emmanuel, an investigative officer with the Department of State Services (DSS), testified about the investigation that led to the arrest of the three NYSC-related defendants. Emmanuel outlined the use of intelligence gathering, phone data analysis, record checks, and interviews with defendants, victims, and witnesses. He also described how an identification parade enabled victims and witnesses to identify the accused as members of the criminal gang. Furthermore, Emmanuel stated that one defendant, Usman Aliyu, confessed to participating in the crime and revealed that a total of 11 people were involved. All statements from the defendants, he confirmed, were taken in the presence of their lawyers and DSS legal representatives.
In the related case involving the other two defendants, Emmanuel likewise testified that their statements were recorded with legal counsel present.
Following the testimonies, Justice Orafu adjourned the cases to October 27, 28, 29, and 30 for continuation of the hearings. He once again urged all counsel to work collaboratively with the court to ensure a swift determination of the cases, reaffirming the goal of delivering judgments before January 2027. All five defendants will remain in DSS custody as proceedings continue.
The charges stem from a kidnapping incident on October 1, 2026, when 20 NYSC corps members were abducted near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area while traveling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. The hostages, along with a civilian, were rescued six days later from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area. Subsequent DSS operations, conducted between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba, Abia State, led to the arrest of five suspects.
